Tunisia unrest: SOS projects safe
SOS Children in Tunisia
Overview of Tunisia
Tunisia is in northern Africa on the shores of the Mediterranean, and bordered by Algeria and Libya to the west and south.
It has a population of over 9.6 million, mostly Arabic peoples. Agriculture and tourism, employing over 40 per cent of the labour force, are the main industries.
Despite a high degree of development, Tunisia has many social problems particularly in urban areas where unemployment is high and slum areas proliferate.
Our Work in Tunisia
Siliana
We have three communities in Tunisia. We opened our first SOS Children's Village, Siliana, in 1983. A provincial capital in central Tunisia, 130 km south-west of Tunis, Siliana has a population of 20,000, most of whom are employed in agriculture. The Village site is on the edge of the town, built in traditional Arabic style and surrounded by mountains, cypress and pine trees. The 11 family houses each have their own vegetable garden. As well as the family houses, there are two SOS Youth Homes where the older children can take their first guided steps towards independence while finishing their education or vocational training in the village's agricultural training workshop. An SOS Nursery has room for 100 children, who come from the local community as well as the SOS families.
Gammarth
Our second community, SOS Children's Village Gammarth, is in a northern suburb of Tunis, La Marsa, and about 20 km from the city centre. Gammarth is an historic village of about 6,000 people near the ancient site of Carthage. The community, on the site of an old olive grove, has ten family houses, built in traditional style and an SOS Youth Home for the older boys. Like Siliana, there is an SOS Nursery where most of the children come from the neighbourhood and an agricultural training centre. There is an elementary school nearby but the nearest secondary schools are in Tunis, easily reached by bus.
Mahres
The SOS Children's Village Mahres, in southern Tunisia, which opened in 2001, is 30 km south of Sfax, the 
second largest city in Tunisia. On the shores of the Mediterranean, the Village has ten family houses and a nursery. At the moment, the nearest schools, hospitals and markets are some distance, but the city of Sfax is rapidly expanding which will bring facilities within easier reach of the village.
In 2006, SOS Children established Family Strengthening Programmes in all three locations of the SOS Children’s Villages. These programmes give practical support and counselling to vulnerable children and their families in the local communities near the SOS Children’s Villages. There is a particular focus on poor families and single-parent families.
Akouda
In February 2010, SOS Children's Village Akouda began caring for orphaned and abandoned children. It has 14 family homes for 112 children, as well as an SOS Social Centre and SOS Nursery.
Aids Orphans in Tunisia
Life in SOS Children's Villages Tunisia: Mokhtar's story
Mokhtar*, is a former SOS child, who lived in SOS Children’s Village Siliana when he was young. At the age of 15; he was transferred to the SOS Youth Home outside the village.
Never suited to traditional academic subjects, Mokhtar was advised to study a vocational course. He has now been trained as a qualified professional chef, despite his slight physical disability in his left hand. With the commitment of his SOS mother, today he is becoming independent. He was hired as a cook in a school. He recently got married and he has now found his own family for life.
*name has been changed for privacy reasons.
Local Contact
Association Tunisienne des Villages d'Enfants SOS
Boulevard de l'Environnement
1057 Gammarth / Tunisie
Tunisia
Tel: +216/71 91 96 14, +216/71 91 96 15
Fax: +216/71 91 96 54
e-mail: atvesos@gnet.tn
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